We rejoice with God and the angels in heaven that Leia was baptized into Christ last Lord's Day! She had been thinking about it during the week at camp, and we commend her for her decision to be baptized. We know it takes courage for anyone to come forward, especially our young people. Having allowed the gospel to "sink in" one week after camp, we rejoice over her decision. May the Lord continue to help her "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18). May she continue to "desire the sincere milk of the word, that [she] may grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2:2). May her parents and/or grandparents continue to allow her to "seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (Mt. 6:33), by continuing to let her attend the services of the church. May we, as her brothers and sisters in Christ, continue to encourage her to "walk in the light, as he is in the light" (1 Jn. 1:7), realizing "the race that is set before us," looking unto Jesus "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:1-2). She is already a great young lady, and living in Christ will make her even greater! While Leia's baptism is fresh on our mind, it is appropriate for us to make some observations concerning the Bible and its teaching about baptism.

All Baptism Is A Response
To Some Kind Of Teaching

People do not merely wake up one morning and go get baptized. Rather, all "baptism" is a response to some kind of teaching, whether the teaching is true or not. In the case of Scriptural baptism (like that which Leia was taught), Paul said, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:16-18). The "form of doctrine" that the Romans obeyed and by which they were "made free from sin" clearly refers to the baptism mentioned earlier (Rom. 6:3-4). When people obey the true teaching of Scripture, their baptism is Scriptural. What about those who "baptize" by sprinkling (christening) infants? Do they just wake up one morning and go christen their babies? Of course not! Rather, they have been taught to do such. The same can be said about those who "baptize" by pouring water on an individual or those who teach that one is saved first and then can be baptized weeks later or even those who teach that baptism is not important at all. Do these people wake up one morning thinking what they think? Of course not! They are taught to think such!

All "Christian" Religious Groups
Have A Teaching on Baptism

The church of Christ (which is not a denomination) and all so-called "Christian" denominations teach something about baptism. No matter how it may be defined from group to group, it is amazing that they all teach something specifically about baptism. Yet, where do they even get the idea of "baptism"? The answer is clear because the New Testament mentions it over and over again. Baptism is clearly a Biblical topic! To ignore baptism would be so obviously unbiblical that any group so doing would be seen by even the most casual observer as being blatantly unbiblical! The question now remains, why do these religious groups teach different, sometimes diametrically opposed doctrines about baptism? Although the answer is sometimes complex and tied to the historical development of the group, one truth is certain: they are not teaching exactly what the Bible teaches about baptism. If all taught exactly what the Bible teaches concerning baptism, all would be united in their teaching (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:4-6; Phil. 3:16).

The Bible's Teaching on Baptism
is the Only True Teaching on Baptism

The fact that the church of Christ (which is not a denomination) and all so-called "Christian" denominations teach something about baptism attests to the fact that the true doctrine of baptism is to be found in the Bible. Like many doctrines, the true unadulterated truth about baptism is presented in the Bible, but over the years people have altered the truth in order to serve a particular purpose. This altered version of the truth is so indoctrinated into the members of each group that they think their denominational teaching is actually what the Bible teaches. Satan deceives people into thinking altered truth (which is falsehood) is indeed the truth (Gen. 3:1-6). The Bible is simple and plain enough to understand, but Satan's deception destroys (2 Cor. 11:3). We must let the Bible speak for itself on baptism (and every other doctrine). Have we followed the Bible's teaching on baptism? If not, why not come forward today and be baptized into Jesus Christ?

 Brian Kenyon